Temporarily not cruising around the world with H2OBO: Start of the Cruising Season 2016

Branko and Ilario

Otranto, May 2016

After a wonderful winter in Roccella Ionica (and we'll be back again this winter), and having done some work, finally, we were all set to get started on our sixth cruising season.

Unfortunately we would have to haul the boat out in Crotone to replace a broken seacock for the toilet, which was stuck in the closed position and meant that we couldn't use our toilet. This was the second Buck Algonquin seacock that failed within seven years. I bought Groco bronze ones as replacements.

Sailing from Crotone

Crotone yard

We had a lovely forecast for a seventy mile downwind sail, but instead motored in no wind. Two days on the hard saw the jobs done and visits with friends we'd met in previous years, which made for a rewarding stay. A special thanks to our friends Rick and Barb on Far Out for smuggling in some North American cotton boxer briefs and replacement fan blades. I don't know how European men can stand to keep their twig and berries wrapped in synthetic material all the time.

Going to the beach (bow)

Our friend Ilario from Roccella has joined us for a few weeks as we make our way to Croatia for another season to see the bits we never saw the first time. He has made sure that we are well stocked with food and booze and is hogging all the sun on the deck. Beware of Italians serving something called a Negroni (consists of Campari, Martini, and gin)! We set off in the direction of the heel of Italy making for either Corfu or the Adriatic, depending on the winds when we got there.

The sailing made up for the motoring to Crotone, and more. It was a gentle beam reach all the way using our wind pilot to steer the course.

Wylie is always curious but gentle

Lovely little bird

We were visited by beautiful little sea swallows (I think) and I finally caught my first fish, a tuna, after five years of dragging lures in the Mediterranean. It was big enough to feed the five of us two meals - the first night underway and the second night BBQ'd while at anchor in Otranto.

First fish since Bahamas

We thanked him

And now we sit at anchor in Otranto waiting to go to Vieste, Italy, which is a long day sail from Lastovo, Croatia, where we will check in to avoid the disaster that is Cavtat. If you enter Croatia from anywhere south of Bari, you will be fined if you don't check in at Cavtat.